King George Whiting

Blacks, Spotted Whiting, Black Whiting

Sillaginodes punctatus

BEST BAITS

Soft Plastic Lure, Pipi, Squid Strip

METHODS

Shore, Jetty, Boat

EATING QUALITY

Excellent

Overview

King George Whiting are South Australia's most prized inshore table fish. Found across bays, gulfs and coastal waters throughout South Australia, they are best targeted on sand patches and seagrass edges and are well suited to shore, jetty and boat fishing. Light tackle, small hooks and fresh bait — especially pipi — make them a very achievable species for beginners while still offering a genuine challenge for bigger fish.

Quick Info

DIFFICULTY

Beginner – Intermediate

TYPICAL SIZE

30–40 cm

MAXIMUM SIZE

Up to 50 cm+; larger fish are rare

HABITAT

Sand, Seagrass, Weed edges, Estuary, Gulf waters

BEST MONTHS

Spring – Autumn (caught year-round in SA gulfs)

ENVIRONMENTS

Shore, Jetty, Boat

Identification

An elongate, silvery-beige to light brown fish covered in distinctive rows of small round brown spots along the back and upper flanks. It has a small mouth, a long low dorsal fin and a slightly forked tail. It is the largest of the Australian whiting species.

Rows of round brown spots along the body; pale silvery belly; small terminal mouth; overall whiting shape with a high back.

SIMILAR SPECIES

Yellowfin Whiting (golden-yellow fins, no spots) and School Whiting (smaller, different spot pattern). King George Whiting is the only South Australian whiting with rows of round brown spots — important, because legal sizes and limits differ between species.

Where to Find Them

SandSeagrassWeed edgesEstuaryGulf waters

Typical depth: 1–20 m

Fishing environments: Shore, Jetty, Boat

When to Fish

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

Best monthsSpring – Autumn (caught year-round in SA gulfs)

TideMoving tide — the run-in and the last of the run-out

Time of dayDawn and dusk, and around tide changes

ConditionsClear water over sand and seagrass edges with a light breeze

Seasonal movementFishing is consistent through the warmer months; fish remain catchable year-round in the gulfs but bite more slowly in winter.

How to Catch Them

Fish a light paternoster rig with fresh pipi over sand patches and seagrass edges. Cast to likely ground, let the sinker settle, and add light berley to draw fish to you. Work the area slowly — whiting rarely travel far to a bait.

Keep baits small and fresh. Thread 1–2 pipi onto a #6 hook so the point is clear; a small squid strip tail adds attraction and stays on the hook.

Not required: King George whiting are taken on light bottom baits, often worked slowly over sand and weed with a berley trail.

BITE BEHAVIOUR

A typical whiting bite is a series of taps — tap, tap, tap — as the fish mouths the bait. Feed a little line, then strike when the rod tip loads up steadily.

HOOK SETTING

Lift firmly once the rod tip loads up — no huge strike needed with small hooks. A smooth firm lift sets the small hook in the whiting's soft mouth.

BEGINNER TIPS

Use fresh bait and keep hooks small. Fish the first two hours of the run-in tide over sand near seagrass. Berley lightly and be patient — bites often come in bursts.

COMMON MISTAKES

Hooks that are too large, baits that are too big, fishing slack line, and striking too hard on the first tap and pulling the bait from the fish's mouth.

Best Baits

Soft Plastic Lure

Prawn and baitfish-pattern plastics on jigheads - the go-to lure for flathead, bream, golden perch and inshore species.

Pipi / Goolwa Cockle

The number one King George Whiting bait in South Australia.

Squid Strip

A tough, reliable whiting bait that stays on the hook.

Prawn

A great all-rounder for whiting, garfish and bream.

Rigs & Gear

Paternoster / Dropper Rig

A versatile and highly effective rig for King George Whiting and many other species.

Current SA Fishing Rules

CURRENT SA FISHING RULES

All other SA waters (west of 136°E)

OPEN

Minimum size30 cm

Daily bag limit10 per person

Daily boat limit30

Possession limit72 fish, 10 kg of fillets, or 36 fish plus up to 5 kg of fillets

Special conditionsCharter boat fishing limits apply to charter fishing activities.

All other SA waters (east of 136°E)

OPEN

Minimum size32 cm

Daily bag limit10 per person

Daily boat limit30

Possession limit72 fish, 10 kg of fillets, or 36 fish plus up to 5 kg of fillets

Special conditionsCharter boat fishing limits apply to charter fishing activities.

Gulf St Vincent & Kangaroo Island

RESTRICTIONS APPLY

Special limits and conditions apply in Gulf St Vincent & Kangaroo Island — see below.

Minimum size32 cm

Daily bag limit5 per person

Daily boat limit15

Possession limit72 fish, 10 kg of fillets, or 36 fish plus up to 5 kg of fillets

Special conditionsCharter boat fishing limits apply to charter fishing activities.

Seasonal closuresSpawning closure: the targeting, take and possession of King George Whiting is prohibited in Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf from 1 March until 30 June.

Spencer Gulf

RESTRICTIONS APPLY

Special limits and conditions apply in Spencer Gulf — see below.

Minimum size32 cm

Daily bag limit10 per person

Daily boat limit30

Possession limit72 fish, 10 kg of fillets, or 36 fish plus up to 5 kg of fillets

Special conditionsCharter boat fishing limits apply to charter fishing activities.

Seasonal closuresSpawning closure: the targeting, take and possession of King George Whiting is prohibited in Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf from 1 March until 30 June.

King George Whiting spawning closure

1 March – 30 June (annually) — Spencer Gulf; Gulf St Vincent & Kangaroo Island

HOW TO MEASURE

Method: Total length

Measured at: Measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail.

LAST CHECKED: 30 September 2026SOURCE: PIRSA

Always check current regulations before fishing. Fishing rules and closures can change.

CHECK CURRENT PIRSA RULES

Keeping Your Catch

HANDLING

Support the fish under the belly and grip gently by the lower jaw or behind gill plate with wet hands. Whiting are delicate — handle minimal and release quickly if not keeping.

BLEEDING

For the best eating quality, dispatch quickly (iki-jime or a firm knock) and bleed the fish by cutting behind the gills before icing.

ICING

Slush ice or an ice slurry as soon as possible keeps whiting flesh firm and sweet — they deteriorate faster than many species.

Cleaning & Filleting

CLEANING

Scale and gut soon after capture. Whiting scale easily with a spoon or scaler under running water.

FILLETING

Fillets are small — take your time. Run the knife behind the head, along the backbone and over the rib cage; whiting fillet out cleanly with practice.

SKIN

Skin can be left on for pan-frying whole or crumbed fillets — it crisps up well and helps hold small fillets together.

BONES

Very few pin bones in the fillet. Run your fingers along the flesh and remove any you feel with pliers before cooking.

Cooking

Pan-frydeep-frysashimi (very fresh)

Dust in seasoned flour and pan-fry in butter until golden, or crumb and deep-fry. Fresh, very well-iced King George Whiting is also superb as sashimi or ceviche.